GHALANAI, Aug 31: An increase of Rs170 has been witnessed in the price of 20 kilogram wheat flour bag in various markets of Mohmand Agency during past 15 days, dealers said.

Traders told Dawn on Saturday that the price of 20kg fine quality flour bag went up by Rs170 to Rs910 from Rs740 a fortnight ago.

Similarly, price of super quality bag rose by Rs100 to Rs930 from Rs820 to Rs830, they said.

The dealers said the flour rates also went up in the wholesale market.

Rahim Dad, a flour dealer, said the prices were on the rise mainly due to inflated wheat prices in Punjab.

“Flourmills were not provided proper wheat quota and those who have stocked wheat were selling it on high prices to these mills,” he said.

He also said consumers were not purchasing flour of Peshawar flourmills because of its low quality and no price difference.

He said the selling of flour bags by internally displaced persons, which they got as relief, at cheaper rates had kept the prices stable but now when they had started returning home the rates went up.

Local residents accused the PML-N-led government at the centre of creating wheat shortage and pushing flour prices up in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata.

They demanded of the federal government to ensure uniformed flour prices in all the provinces and to curb flour smuggling across the border.